Successful Federation at Ashton-On-Mersey School and Broadoak School

Successful Federation at Ashton-on-Mersey School and Broadoak School

Brian Rigby MBE – Chair of Governors

If the introduction oflegislation to allow schools to federate was intended to bring about 'school improvement and new opportunities for both staff and pupils' the Federation between Ashton-on-Mersey School, Sale and Broadoak School, Partington has certainly more than achieved these aims.

Both schools are situated withinthe Metropolitan Borough of Trafford. Oneis a Foundation School, and the other a Community School, but on the formation of the Federation, changed to Foundation under a single Governing Body and Executive Headteacher with each school having a separate Headteacher.

Such has been the success of this Federation, that Trafford Council as well as Partington Parish Council have applauded the huge improvement in both the levels of achievement as well as the manynew opportunitiesthat are available forpupils at both schools. In fact Broadoak School, Partington became the fourth most improved school in the country after just2 years of the Federation.

This improvement has been possible because there was a desire to 'make things happen.'The Federation has meant that key staff have been retained, and at the same time they have been given new roles and responsibilities.Joint training and working across both schools has proved that sharing best practice really works and is appreciated.

The Governors havebeenproactive inintroducingnew initiatives andin supporting all staff in their drive to bring about improvements.Staff have said that they feel supported and valued by Governors.

Thestructure of thethe Governing Body has been vital to success of this Federation as theyhaveownership and trustto specialise on their remits ofCurriculum, Personnel, Finance and Environment and this has ensured that improvements have beenrapid and progress has not been bogged down in bureaucracy andlengthy meetings have been avoided.Individual Governors have been given special responsibilities including the appointment of a SEN Governor and a Community Cohesion Governor at each school.

As well as meeting parents, the Headteachers and Governors havegone out into the community to attend meetingsin order toshare their vision withthe localpeople and at the same timeto listen and respond tothe local community.